HC Deb 21 April 1982 vol 22 cc247-9
2. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to increase the amount of grant to be made available to local authorities for the clearance of derelict land; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Michael Heseltine)

The amount available to county and district councils for grant-aided derelict land reclamation has been increased in 1982–83 to £45 million, an improvement of some 20 per cent. on last year.

Mr. Dormand

Is the Secretary of State aware of the importance of reclamation to the older industrial areas, such as the Northern region? Has he seen the transformation that has taken place in some areas? Is he aware that there is a strong rumour that the money for derelict land reclamation is to be reduced? Will he scotch that rumour and acknowledge that the rest of the country owes a great debt to older industrial areas?

Mr. Heseltine

It is obvious that I believe the scheme to be important. That is why I have increased the money to be made available this year by 20 per cent. over last year. I cannot choose which rumours the hon. Gentleman cares to believe, but they have no foundation.

Mrs. Knight

Will my right hon. Friend impress on local authorities the importance of refraining from taking over people's homes and businesses unless there is a clear plan to redevelop the land? Does he agree that people should not be dispossessed, only to witness land lying derelict for many years?

Mr. Heseltine

My hon. Friend will realise that tight procedures are associated with compulsory purchase orders. However, it is important to remember that the Government have revealed vast acreages of land in public ownership that could be put to better use. We are now seeking systematically to disgorge that land.

Mr. Lofthouse

Does the Secretary of State recall his visit to derelict sites in West Yorkshire on 19 March and his press statement that day in which he was reported to have said that £70 million would be available for the derelict land programme? Arising out of that visit, will West Yorkshire county council receive further financial assistance for the derelict land programme?

Mr. Heseltine

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will forgive me if I point out that the figures he mentioned relate to a different programme. The £70 million is the sum that I am earmarking for next year's programmes—a combination of derelict land and urban programmes—for development schemes in urban areas. The amount for the derelict land programme this year is £45 million. I discussed that with the West Yorkshire county council, which has made good use of derelict land grants in the past. We discussed a number of schemes. I understand that the council has submitted ideas to my Department, and they will be carefully considered.

Mr. Stokes

Apart from such vast sums of money being spent—no doubt necessarily—is not this subject ideal for young people under one of the Government's many voluntary training schemes?

Mr. Heseltine

My hon. Friend will be delighted to know that, through the various urban programmes to which I have referred, young people receive many opportunities resulting from my Department's expenditure programmes.

Dr. David Clark

Bearing in mind that most of the areas with the highest levels of dereliction have the highest levels of unemployment, does it not make sense to encourage local authorities to employ unemployed men and women to restore derelict land? Will the Secretary of State set up a co-ordinating body for the English regions, similar to the Scottish and Welsh Development Agencies, to bring together the work of local authorities?

Mr. Heseltine

I should have thought that local authorities were capable of achieving such an objective if they felt it necessary. The hon. Gentleman has a working knowledge of the problems. He will understand that the idea of getting children with picks and shovels to take over from the bulldozers is not compatible with achieving the best value for money in terms of public expenditure.[Interruption.] The Opposition should be concerned about the question put to me by their spokesman. Expenditure under the derelict land programme involves a large amount of mechanisation. I should not carry the House with me if I suggested that we reverted to physical labour.